And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made.

(And so did we) LOL

The Beauty of Love

“Is there anything more beautiful in life than a young couple
Clasping hands and pure hearts in the path of marriage?
Can there be anything more beautiful than a young love?”
The answer is given.
“Yes, there is a more beautiful thing.
It is a spectacle of an old man and an old woman
Finishing their journey together on that path,
Their hands gnarled, but still clasped; their faces seamed,
But still radiant; their hearts are physically bowed and tired, but still strong with love and devotion for one another.
Yes, there is a more beautiful thing than young love .
Old Love.”

Is there anything better than young love ~ YES "OLD Love!"

Cathy & Phillip ~Engaged

Popping the Question


Asking the one you want to spend the rest of your life with to marry you is not always the easiest task especially if you are shy. I have to admit I didn't make Phillip's proposal simple in some ways but then in other ways he did pop the question in a less traditional way than most men prepared to ask his girl to marry him.

April 6,1974 Phillip and I were on our way to Lapeer or Waterford Michigan to attend my cousin Don DeVaugh's wedding. We were just a couple miles from Phillip's parents home in Milan, driving along, discussing my cousin's upcoming wedding. This was our conversation:


Phil: You know some day we will be doing this.

Cathy: Oh, really.....when?

Phil: When do you want to?

Cathy: I don't know. I haven't been asked, yet.

Phil: Will You?

Cathy: Will I what?

Phil: Will you marry me?

Cathy: Yes!

(kiss,kiss,kiss)

As you see there was no flowers, bended knee, candlelight dinner or romantic music. Although Phillip was not hesitant to bring me flowers during our courtship nor since our marriage. In fact after writing & saving this for Phillip to proof read I have come back to add that just today my Darling Husband brought me B E A U T I F U L hot pink roses. I just got back from a week spent in Kansas with our son and daughter-in-law while our grandson was having open heart surgery. It was a welcome home surprise!

Now unless you think that my proposal was too easy wait till you hear how the story went as Phillip asked my Dad for permission to marry me. For some reason it sounds like (looking back) that we did things alittle backwards. I do believe Phillip asked me before he asked Dad for permission! LOL Of course there was no sense asking Dad if I was going to say NO! (not a chance!)

One weekend following my cousin's wedding Phillip came to my house. It was Sunday night and the next morning I would be returning to Pt. Pleasant School and Phillip would go to Michigan to work. After Church we had an evening snack. Dad & Mom went to their room but their door was open so Phillip & I went to their doorway. I don't remember what all was discussed but it had NOTHING to do with why we were there. My Dad pulled his shoes off. Every once in a while just to shake Phillip up I would begin a sentence with " Well we are going to ....." or " We would like to....." or just a long drawn out "Wellllllllllllll......" Dad pulled his socks off. We continued talking. Dad pulled his shirt from his pants. Now I'm running out of things to say to stall my Dad from going to bed. Mom is fussing around the room, picking up this & that THEN Dad does take off his shirt. He REALLY wants to go to bed after that lovely evening snack. He yawns.... Still we stall for more time. This stalling goes on for several minutes.Then just as I am ready to give up on Phillip's courage he asks "May I have permission to marry your daughter?" Dad is VERY pleased that he will soon be granted the privacy to retire for the evening and readily says "if you feel this is God's Will for your lives then you have our Blessing." Hugs and congratulations were offered all around and the officially engaged couple, with a sigh of relief, leave my amused parents room.
Thus began the planning stage of an August 31st,1974 wedding.

The Proposal


A college senior took his new girlfriend to a football game.



The young couple found seats in the crowded stadium and were watching the action. A substitute was put into the game, and as he was running onto the field to take his position, the boy said to his girlfriend, "Take a good look at that fellow. I expect him to be our best man next year."


His girlfriend snuggled closer to him and said, "That's the strangest way I ever heard of for a fellow to propose to a girl. Regardless of how you said it, "I accept."

The Woman of His Dreams


A young man called his mother and announced excitedly that he had just met the woman of his dreams. Now what should he do?

His mother had an idea: "Why don't you send her flowers, and on the card invite her to your place for a home-cooked meal?"

He thought this was a great strategy and arranged a date for a week later. His mother called the day after the big date to see how things had gone.

"The evening was a disaster," he moaned.

"Why, didn't she come over?" asked his mother.

"Oh, she came over, but she refused to cook."

ATTENTION**** THE SECOND PART OF OUR LOVE STORY FOLLOWS THE FIRST SO THE THIRD INSTALLMENT WILL BE ABOVE THE OTHER TWO. ARE YOU TOTALLY CONFUSED YET?

Garden of Love



Cabbage always has a heart;

Green beans string along.

You're such a Tomato,

Will you Peas to me belong?

You've been the Apple of my eye,

You know how much I care;

So Lettuce get together,

We'd make a perfect Pear.

Now, something's sure to Turnip,

To prove you can't be Beet;

So, if you Carrot all for me

Let's let our Tulips meet.

Don't Squash my hopes and dreams now,

Bee my Honey, dear;

Or tears will fill Potato's eyes,

While Sweet Corn lends an ear.

I'll Cauliflower shop and say

Your dreams are Parsley mine.

I'll work and share my Celery,

So be my Valentine.

Your Love is Ur Heart,
Your heart is Ur Spouse ,
Your spouse is Ur Future ,
Your future is Ur Destiny ,
Your destiny is Ur Ambition,
Your ambition is Ur Aspiration ,
Your aspiration is Ur Motivation ,
Your motivation is Ur Belief ,
Your belief is Ur Peace ,
Your peace is Ur Target ,
Your target is Heaven ,

Quote

True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked..... Erich Segal

Our Beginning


My senior year at Pt. Pleasant Bible School was the 1973-74 school year. The first day of school I found my dorm room. There were 3 other girls with whom I would be rooming . One of those young ladies was Shelbie Avery. She said one of the first things she remembers is having somebody ask her if she was Cathy Mayle. We have often been mistaken for sisters. As roommates often do, we became friends. On display in our room was a family picture which included her 5 eligible brothers which she often teased me about.

The weekend after Valentines Day (Feb. 15,1974) Shelbie invited me to Michigan to spend the weekend with her and her family. Okay maybe she was playing cupid even then. LOL On Saturday (2/16/1974) we were all invited to their pastors home, Wayne And Nancy Combs. Phillip had been working that day and he came over after work. We were introduced thus began the getting to know you stage. We had supper then played some games. Then Phillip and Shelbie took me next door to the Church to show me around. At the end of the evening Phillip planned to take Shelbie and me home. I told Shelbie that she had to get in the car first so she would be in the middle. She said, fine and went ahead, knowing the passenger door was parked up against a snow bank and we had to slide in through the drivers side. So I was (by predestination) in the middle. Of course, I didn't want to offend them by refusing to sit up front so I yielded to "pressure." (willingly) For those knowing the Milan exit and the Sharp curve at that exit, you will understand how the force of gravity caused me to lean, though I tried NOT to, (sure,sure) in Phillip's direction. He used that curve to his "unfair" advantage by slipping his arm around me and I lost my heart to this blond-haired, blue-eyed Michigander. We visited for a little while in the kitchen after arriving back to their home and the next day I sat with Phillip in Church. When Shelbie, Mark, & I left for West Virginia that day my heart remained in Michigan. Phillip and I began keeping the post office busy by writing back and forth from Michigan to West Virginia and weekend visits at my parents home and telephone calls on a regular bases. That was the beginning of a courtship that has been on going for almost 33 years.

Our Courtship


How did a young lady born in Michigan, raised in Ohio, and graduating in West Virginia "just happen" to meet and fall in love with this Michigan man? It was no accident me meeting (does that sound like a song) him. God had a master plan for both of our lives and I'm so glad we followed His leadership.

Phillip and I dated long distance for 3 months (before becoming engaged)especially since I was in school. On the weekends that I went home and Phillip wasn't working he would come to Ohio. We didn't really do anything spectacular as far as dating but we talked and took drives and visited with family. We did go out to Dairy Queen occasionally. Of course Sunday's we attended church with my family. Then all to soon it would be time for Phillip to drive back to Michigan, while we wondered just how soon he could come back again. Is it getting mushy in here or is it just me? LOL Sorry.

Often when Phillip was teased about going to that southern state with 4 letters to claim a girlfriend he would reply with " I just went down there to help her see the light and bring her back to her homeland." Even though I lived in Michigan my first 2-3 years at heart I am a southern gal. What can I say???? LOL No matter how much I loved home the Lord began to remove the soft feathers that lined my "nest" and placed a small compass in there that pointed due north. We knew that He had joined our hearts and some time ahead there was a future for us. As you know there came a time in this relationship that God began to give Phillip light and he began to take small steps to walk in the light of Proverbs 18:22 Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing and obtaineth favour of the Lord. just teasing I'll tell you all about it when we visit again. You all come back now .....REAL SOON!

Coming soon the month of AUGUST. Which happens to be the month that Phillip & I were married. Okay so, it was the very last day of August. (The 31st to be exact) So this month I am featuring songs and articles to co-ordinate with the occasion. Steve and Annie Chapman have many clips of their meaningful music so some of the songs are longer than others. Check in on us often.

Please pray for Aaron (our grandson). Monday, Aug. 6th, (NOTE NEW DATE)he will have open heart surgery. We are requesting prayer for a safe flight also as we travel to Kansas.

Aaron has come through his surgery for which we thank our Father in heaven. He is slowwwwwly progressing but this grandma is anxiously waiting to see that smile once again. In God's time.

Aaron has been taken off his ventilator, some of his medication, is awake, and has eaten alittle. GOD IS GOOD>>>>>All the time!!

8/17/2007 Aaron came home today from the hospital. The open heart surgery was a success. Thank you to all who prayed and most of all to God who heard and answered!

Harvest Time

1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Sunday our Pastor, Rev. Michael Arnold, shared a message which spoke to me. The text is the Scripture above. Some of the thoughts that stood out to me was how Jesus used the phrase in verse 2 "taketh away" interpreted lifted up. I have a tomato plant that my Mom gave me Mother's Day weekend. I remember planting this small sprout, thinking of the future harvest of tomatoes for cheeseburgers and bacon/tomato sandwiches (hold the lettuce). I was so excited when the plant grew and seemed much to heavy to stand alone. My husband, more of a farmer than I, carefully tied it to a stake.....lifted it up so the fruit wouldn't grow on the ground and spoil. God spoke to me, reminding me of the times He has lifted me up so the leaves of my Spiritual plant would not turn brown and whither thus preventing me from bearing good fruit.

Another thought that Rev. Arnold refreshed in my mind concerns the abundance of the harvest. John spoke in our text, of NO fruit, SOME fruit, MORE fruit, and MUCH fruit. The question that lingered in my mind was: What size fruit basket would you need to contain your Spiritual fruit? Getting back to my tomato plant, It continued to grow, nice and tall. Each time I spoke with my mother I asked if she had tomatoes in her garden. Finally she broke the news to me ....I should have tomatoes by now. I didn't even have a bloom. The appearance was good but there was no fruit. Does this convict your heart as it did mine? Lord, help me not to just appear as a Christian but, help me bear fruit. Not just some fruit but please, let me have an abundant harvest of MUCH fruit so that I may bring Glory to you.

My worthless tomato plant is good for nothing. It will be pulled up and thrown into the burning barrel. In conclusion, may I ask what kind of plant are you? Are you fruitful? How is your harvest? Father, God help each of us to have much fruit to lay at your feet some glad harvest day. Let us not be ashamed, knowing as we sow, so shall we reap. In Jesus name, Amen.

Saturday morning our daughter Sarah brought Zachary over to anxiously wait for the parade to begin. The children noticed one of my neighbors had set up a yard sale so to pass the time we went over. Then we grabbed our chairs, blankets, and a bag for candy, walked a short block over to sit and wait for the sound of the police cars, fire trucks, and band. We were not disappointed. Promptly at noon the drums and whistles sounded. To begin a hospital helicopter flew over several times. Then came the police car, veteran carrying the flag, firetrucks, old cars, floats, band, and so much more. Most of the parade participants threw candy to the children and the smiles on their faces grew with the weight of the bag of candy. One of the final firetrucks even sprayed those watching along the parade route. This thrilled the children. For more pictures you may browse Sarah & Tony's Blog. The link is on the side of this page. To end our adventurous day we went to a pizza place which served a pizza buffet. How wonderful to enjoy fun times with our family. We wished the rest of the family could have been there with us.

Next we followed the crowd to the inflatables again so Abigail could introduce Zachary to all the fun she had enjoyed the night before. And to think all this fun was FREE thanks to the businesses of Petersburg. Before going home we shared an elephant ear with powdered sugar and another one with brown sugar & cinnamon

(July 20-21) Last weekend was a child's dream. It began with Abigail deciding she would like to spend with night with her grandparents. Although before we made it home from shopping she thought maybe we should drop her off at home because she was afraid she would get bored. Now those words are a challenge to any grandparent. So I began wondering how to make the evening eventful. We got to the city limits of our small town and the main street was blocked off. There in the middle of our street was the answer to my musings. The Petersburg Community Days had begun. We quickly unloaded the groceries and walked uptown. The library was having a wooden chair auction which we watched for a while as painted chairs which had been decorated and other items were auctioned off. Then Abigail was floating as we headed to the inflatable gyms an those bouncy places kids jump . She went up the steps and slide down so many times it was all she could do to enjoy a shaved ice, take a bath and dream of the parade scheduled for the next day. What a relief! She went to sleep convinced her grandparents had made this night special just for her!

GOD BLESS THE U.S.A.

Let Freedom Ring!

Holidays are not all fun and games at the Avery household. Now that most of the children have left the nest Phillip, Naomi, & I create our own style of celebrating. July 3rd we went with Hannah and Sarah, Tony, & their family to see fireworks on the grounds of a local church. (for a detailed account of Zachary's mishap see Sarah's blog) Then July 4th Naomi, Phillip, and I went to Dundee to see their parade. I forgot the camera so no shots of that. Afterward we came home and had hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad, chips, and cottage cheese. Then Phillip got to work. He painted our dining room and I washed windows. It REALLY brightened the room up. Thanks, Phillip for a job well done. He did such an expert job the following Saturday I "let" him paint the bathroom ceiling. LOL The porch is next on the honey-do list.